July/August 1999

Dominique EadeThe Long Way HomeRCAVictor

Dominique Eade has a lovely voice, a distinctive and personable sound- but hers is not an instrument that begs comparison with Sarah or Ella: Dinah Washington, perhaps, but fuller and more resonant, or Phoebe Snow without the warble. More to the point, she is gifted with a musical sensibility that goes beyond simple "interpretation." For this session she has assembled a truly exemplary band, with Mick Goodrick on guitar, Bruce Barth on piano, Dave Holland on bass, Victor Lewis on drums, and Cyro Baptista on percussion. Eade's arrangements give them space to air their talents, without ever losing sight of the songs they are serving. The repertoire has a few surprises, including a reading of Loesser's "Hans Christian Anderson" that nicely subverts what had seemed Danny Kaye's personal property, and a marvelously sophisticated reading of the country "Have I Stayed Away Too Long." Eade's compositions marry wistful touches of poetry and insight to apt melodies and changes. There are no disappointments here: Eade's is a significant talent, and I look forward to hearing more.